FR3053560A1 - METHOD FOR MESSAGE REDIRECTION IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a message redirection method in a telecommunications network, said method being implemented in a service platform of an operator, comprising the following steps: - receiving (208) an incoming message intended for a first line telephone and identifying a transmitting telephone line, said incoming message being a text message or a multimedia message; - (210) consulting a database of users to deduce (211) from the first telephone line a second telephone line for the incoming message, the second telephone line being distinct from the first telephone line; - send (213) a modified message in the telecommunications network, the modified message identifying the transmitting telephone line identified in the incoming message and being intended for the second telephone line.

Description

© Publication no .: 3,053,560 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 16 56076 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : H 04 W 40/34 (2017.01), H 04 W 8/18, 4/12

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 06.29.16. (© Applicant (s): ORANGE Société anonyme - FR. (30) Priority: @ Inventor (s): MOUNIR ALAOUI SALIM and SUART CHRISTOPHE. (43) Date of public availability of the request: 05.01.18 Bulletin 18/01. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ©) Holder (s): ORANGE Société anonyme. related: ©) Extension request (s): © Agent (s): CABINET PLASSERAUD.

Pty METHOD FOR REDIRECTION OF MESSAGE IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.

FR 3 053 560 - A1 (hr) The invention relates to a method of message redirection in a telecommunications network, said method being implemented in an operator's service platform, comprising the following steps:

- receiving (208) an incoming message intended for a first telephone line and identifying a transmitting telephone line, said incoming message being a text message or a multimedia message;

- consult (210) a user database in order to deduce (211) from the first telephone line a second telephone line for the incoming message, the second telephone line being distinct from the first telephone line;

- send (213) a modified message in the telecommunications network, the modified message identifying the transmitting telephone line identified in the incoming message and being intended for the second telephone line.

Message redirection method in a telecommunications network

The present invention relates to the reception of messages, of SMS (for “Short Message Service”) or MMS (for “Multimedia Message Service”) type, in telecommunications networks.

It aims in particular to offer subscribers the possibility of receiving such incoming messages on another line or another medium than the telephone line designated as the recipient.

In the context of legal telephone interception, there are various methods of interception, but only based on a single predetermined number, and directly through network platforms. These methods are reserved for organizations in charge of monitoring telephone communications and cannot be offered to simple subscribers to a telephone operator.

The present invention improves the situation.

To this end, it proposes a method of message redirection in a telecommunications network, said method being implemented in an operator's service platform, the method comprising the following steps:

- receive an incoming message intended for a first telephone line and identifying a transmitting telephone line, the incoming message being a text message or a multimedia message;

- consult a database of users in order to deduce from the first telephone line a second telephone line for the incoming message, the second telephone line being distinct from the first telephone line;

- send a modified message in the telecommunications network, the modified message identifying the transmitting telephone line identified in the incoming message and being intended for the second telephone line.

Thus, a service platform of the telecommunications network is able to intercept messages intended for a first telephone line, in order to redirect them to a second telephone line, distinct from the first telephone line, by consulting a database. The use of a database improves the flexibility of the process insofar as such a database can be reconfigured. In addition, the sending telephone line being identified in the modified message, the redirection is transparent to the recipient of the message.

The message can be a text message of SMS type or multimedia type

MMS.

According to one embodiment, the method can further comprise the following steps, following the sending of the modified message to the second telephone line:

- receive a message of non-acknowledgment of the modified message (if the modified message could not be transmitted on the second telephone line);

- consult the user database in order to obtain a third telephone line associated with the first and second telephone lines;

- send a new modified message to the third telephone line, the modified message identifying the sending telephone line identified in the incoming message.

Thus, the invention provides for a sequence of returns, making it possible to increase the probability that the message is actually received.

According to one embodiment, the method can comprise the following steps, prior to the reception of the incoming message:

- receive a request for routing information request for the incoming message, the request identifying the first telephone line;

- send, in response to the request for routing information request, a response identifying the service platform as the recipient of the incoming message.

Thus, the service platform ensures that messages are routed to it, so that it can implement the redirect service.

In addition or as a variant, the request for routing information request is received from a central entity of a telecommunications network operator.

Thus, the operation of the central entity, which is for example of the HLR type for "Home Location Register", is not modified, all the steps necessary for redirection being implemented in the service platform.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the user database can store at least one association between a first telephone line and a second telephone line, and each association can correspond to a user account.

The user database can thus be common to a plurality of users, for example to all the users of a given telephone operator.

In addition, each user account can be configured online by a user.

The flexibility associated with redirection is thus improved.

In addition or as a variant, the association between the first telephone line and the second telephone line is also associated with at least one time slot, and the modified message is sent towards the second telephone line if the incoming message is received during said at least one time slot.

Thus, the redirection can advantageously be implemented during certain time slots. For example, redirection is particularly effective towards a professional telephone line during working hours.

According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one association between a first telephone line and a second telephone line is also associated with a list of transmitting telephone lines, and the modified message can be sent to the second telephone line. if the telephone line identified in the incoming message belongs to the list of transmitting telephone lines associated with the first telephone line.

Thus, a filtering function can be applied to the redirection, which improves the flexibility of the redirection service.

According to one embodiment, the association between the first telephone line and the second telephone line is also associated with a third telephone line in the user database.

Thus, the user can configure a series of forwardings in order to increase the probability of delivering the message.

According to one embodiment, the modified message can be sent to a message center responsible for routing messages in the telecommunications network.

The invention is thus compatible with a conventional network architecture, all of the redirection steps being implemented in the service platform in a transparent manner vis-à-vis the other entities of the network.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a computer program characterized in that it includes instructions for implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention, when this program is executed by a processor.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a message redirection module in a telecommunications network, the module comprising:

- an input interface for receiving an incoming message intended for a first telephone line and identifying a transmitting telephone line, the incoming message being a text message or a multimedia message;

- a processor for consulting a database of users in order to deduce from the first telephone line a second telephone line for the incoming message, the second telephone line being distinct from the first telephone line;

an output interface for sending a modified message in the telecommunications network, the modified message identifying the transmitting telephone line identified in the incoming message and being intended for the second telephone line.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a service platform comprising a message redirection module according to the third aspect of the invention.

Other particularities and advantages of the present invention will appear in the description below of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the sequences of a method for redirecting messages, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a redirection module, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

The system comprises a first user terminal 100, called the calling terminal in the examples considered below. The first user terminal 100 is preferably a portable telephone, of the Smartphone type for example. However, the first user terminal 100 covers any electronic device capable of sending a message, in particular a short message of SMS type. The first user terminal 100 may include a module identifying a telephone line, denoted A below, by the calling user. Such a module can for example be a SIM card (for “Subscriber Identity Module” in English).

A message, known as an incoming message thereafter, is sent, as detailed below with reference to FIG. 2, by the first user terminal 100 intended for a first telephone line of a called user. For example, the first telephone line, denoted B1 thereafter, of the called user can be associated with a module, of the SIM card type, integrated in a first user terminal called 111.1. A second user terminal called 111.2 is shown in Figure 1 and includes a SIM card type module associated with a second telephone line, denoted B2 below. For example, the first and second telephone lines B1 and B2 can belong to the same user. Alternatively, the first and second telephone lines B1 and B2 may belong to separate users.

In addition, two separate terminals 111.1 and 111.2 were respectively associated with the first and second telephone lines B1 and B2. However, the invention also covers the case in which a single user terminal comprises at least two modules of the SIM card type associated with the first and second telephone lines B1 and B2.

The invention can also provide that the first telephone line B1 is a so-called "dummy" telephone line, that is to say that it is not associated with any SIM type module. Such a fictitious telephone line makes it possible to anonymize another telephone line owned by the same user.

The system shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a first SMS center 101 grouping together and redirecting short messages originating from users of a first operator of the telecommunications network or intended for such users. The term "SMS center" is used here, although it will be understood that the invention applies both to the redirection of text messages of SMS type, but also to multimedia messages of MMS type.

The system further includes a central entity 106 of a second operator of the telecommunications network. The second operator may or may not be separate from the first operator in charge of the first SMS center 101. The central entity 106 is preferably an HLR type entity, for “Home Location Register” in English, responsible for providing routing information. short messages in the network of the second operator. To this end, the central entity 106 may include an accessibility module 107 and an accessibility database 108, the operation of which will be detailed in the following.

The system further includes a service platform 102 according to the invention, the service platform 102 belonging to the second operator. The service platform 102 may include a redirection module 103, a user database 104 and a configuration module 105.

The second operator also has an SMS center 109, called second SMS center 109 below, grouping and redirecting short messages originating from users of the second operator or intended for such users.

The system also includes a mobile service center 110, of MSC type for example for “Mobile service Switching Function” in English. A single mobile service center 110 has been shown in FIG. 1. However, a telecommunications network generally comprises a plurality of mobile service centers, dedicated to respective coverage areas. In addition, it is considered in FIG. 1 that the first and second mobile terminals 111.1 and 111.2 have been located in the coverage area of the same mobile service center 110. The invention is in no way restricted to this example, and s applies equally when the first and second mobile terminals 111.1 and 111.2 are located in areas of coverage of separate mobile service centers.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the steps of a message redirection method according to an embodiment of the invention.

In a prior step 200, the user database 104 can be configured, for example by the user, via the configuration module 105. The configuration module can for example be controlled online, remotely, by the user, for example via a dedicated user interface, which is accessed by the user of the first telephone line B1. During the configuration step, the user can access a user account which is specific to him. Such access can be conditioned by a prior step of identification and / or authentication of the user.

The user account can include at least one association between the first telephone line B1, and another telephone line to which it wishes to redirect at least certain messages. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the other telephone line is the second telephone line B2, which can be a telephone line belonging to the same user, or a telephone line of another user. As previously explained, the first telephone line B1 can be a dummy line.

In addition, during the configuration step 200, the user can configure the association between the first telephone line B1 and the second telephone line B2 to at least one time slot (or to several time slots by entering a calendar for example ), during which the redirection is active. The user can also manually enable or disable the user account redirection option. In addition or as a variant, the user account can also include a list of transmitting telephone lines for which redirection is activated. Such telephone lines can be identified by their MSISDN numbers. The user can thus indicate the senders of incoming messages for which he wishes a redirect. In addition or as a variant, the user can associate more than two telephone lines in his user account. For example, a third phone line can be specified, to which an incoming message should be routed if the second phone line B2 is unavailable. The third telephone line can be the first telephone line B1 or another telephone line B3 distinct from the first and second telephone lines B1 and B2. In addition, the user, via their user account, can decide on any other action to be taken in the event of the unavailability of the second telephone line. Other actions provided for by the invention provide for the sending of the incoming message on a support separate from the mobile terminal users 111.1 and 111.2 (laptop or desktop computer, television, etc.). Step 200 can be performed at any time on the initiative of the user, by logging into his user account.

In a step 201, the user terminal 100 sends a message, called an incoming message and identifying the telephone line A as the transmitting telephone line and identifying the first telephone line B1 as the destination telephone line. As described above, the incoming message is preferably a short message of the SMS type.

The incoming message is routed in the network to the first SMS center 101 of the first telephone operator. The first SMS center 101 is able to determine that the telephone line B1 is a telephone line belonging to the second telephone operator.

Thus, the first SMS center 101 refers to the second telephone operator in order to be able to continue routing the message in the network to the first telephone line B1.

To this end, in a step 202, the first SMS center 101 sends a request for routing information request for the incoming message, this request identifying the first telephone line B1, to the central entity 106 of the second telephone operator.

The routing information request can comply with the SS7 protocol. To this end, the routing information request can identify:

a recipient party CdPA: an MSISDN number (for “Mobile Station Integrated Services Digitial Network) corresponding to the first telephone line Bl. Such a number corresponds to the telephone number associated with the first telephone line Bl;

- a CgPA source part: the first SMS 101 center;

a DPC destination point code for the request for routing information request: the central unit 106 of the second telephone operator;

- an OPC origin point code for the request for routing information request: the first SMS center 101;

- an MSISDN number: the number associated with the first telephone line B1.

According to the invention, the central entity 106, on receipt of the request for routing information request is able to transfer, in a step 203, the request for routing information request to the redirection module 103 of the platform service 102, in order to implement the redirection service provided by the invention. In order to implement the transfer, the central entity 106 identifies the service platform 102 as the destination point code.

Such a transfer to the service platform 102 can be systematic. As a variant, the central entity 106 can determine whether the first telephone line B1 is a telephone line of a user who has subscribed to the redirection service. If this is the case, the request for routing information request is indeed transferred to the service platform 102. Otherwise, the central entity 106 functions as a central entity of the conventional HLR type by responding directly to the first center SMS 101 by indicating the address of the SMS center 109 of the second telephone operator to which the incoming message must be routed.

On receipt of the request for routing information request, the redirection module 103 is able to determine in a step 204, following a consultation of the user database in a step 205, whether the redirection option corresponding to the first telephone line B1 is activated or not. For example, activation may depend on a status of the redirection option in the user account, or may depend on activation time periods that may be defined by the user in step 200.

In the case where the redirection option is activated, the redirection module 103 is able to generate a response identifying the service platform 102 as the receiver of the incoming message, and to transmit the response in a step 206 to the entity central 106, for sending to the first SMS center 101 at a step 207. In order to identify the service platform as receiver of the incoming message, the response can also comply with the SS7 protocol and can identify:

- a recipient party CdPA: the first SMS center 101;

- a CgPA source part: the service platform 102;

- a DPC destination point code of the response: the first SMS center 101;

- an OPC origin point code of the response: the central unit 106;

- an IMSI number, for "International Mobile Subscriber Identity" in English: a fictitious number, the service platform does not have an IMSI.

The response is then transferred by the central entity 106 to the first SMS center 101 in step 207.

In the case where the redirection option is deactivated, the invention can provide that the redirection module 103 informs the central entity, which fills in the "CgPA source part" field with the address of the mobile service center 110. Such an address is obtained by consulting the accessibility database 108, the address of the mobile service center 110 being stored there in association with the first telephone line. Such a situation, corresponding to a conventional incoming message routing situation, is not taken into account in the following description.

In a step 208, the incoming message is sent by the first SMS center 101 to the service platform 102. The incoming message can identify:

- a recipient party CdPA: the service platform 102;

- a CgPA source part: the first SMS 101 center;

- a DPC destination point code of the incoming message: the number of the first telephone line B1;

- an OPC point of origin code for the incoming message: the first SMS center

101;

- an IMSI number, for “International Mobile Subscriber Identity” in English: the fictitious number of the service platform 102;

- a transmitting telephone line identifier TP-OA: the number associated with telephone line A.

Upon receipt of the incoming message, the redirection module 103 of the service platform 102 can send an acknowledgment message to the first SMS center 101 indicating that the incoming message has been received.

On reception of the incoming message, the redirection module 103 is able to consult the user database 104 in a step 209 by submitting to it the identifier of the first telephone line Bl. In a step 210, the database d the users 104 determine the redirection options associated with the first telephone line B1. The redirection options include whether or not the redirection option is activated (depending for example on the time slot in which the incoming message is received) and indicate the second telephone line B2 associated with the first telephone line Bl.

In the example considered, the redirection option is active and the first telephone line B1 is associated with the second telephone line B2. Thus, the user database 104 returns the identifier of the second telephone line B2 to the redirection module 103 in a step 211.

In a step 212, the redirection module 103 generates a modified message from the incoming message, by replacing the destination point code of the incoming message with the identifier of the second telephone line B2. For example, the redirection module 103 can communicate with the network entities of the second telephone operator via the GSM MAP protocol.

The modified message is sent in a step 213 to the second SMS center 109 for routing in the network of the second telephone operator.

The second SMS center 109 is able to consult the central entity 106 in order to obtain the address of the mobile service center 110 able to serve the second user terminal 111.2 associated with the second telephone line B2.

Upon receipt of the address of the mobile service center 110, the second SMS center 109 transmits the modified message to the mobile service center 110 during step 214.

The mobile service center 110 attempts to deliver the modified message to the second user terminal 111.2 in a step 215. In the event of failure (for example if the second user terminal 111.2 is switched off), a non-acknowledgment message is sent at a step 216 from the mobile service center 110 to the second SMS center 109, the non-acknowledgment message being transferred to the redirection module 103 at a step 217.

The redirection module 103 is then able to consult, in a step 218, the user database 104, in order to determine, in a step 219 whether a forwarding sequence (at least a third telephone line is associated with the first and second telephone lines Bl and B2, as previously explained).

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the forwarding sequence plans to redirect the message to the first telephone line B1 in the event of unavailability of the telephone line B2. It will be understood that the invention applies equally to the case where a third telephone line B3 distinct from the telephone lines Bl and B2, is indicated in the event of the unavailability of the second telephone line B2.

The identifier of the first telephone line B1 is then returned to the redirection module 103 by the user database 104, in a step 220.

The redirection module 103 then generates, in a step 221, a new modified message, by replacing the destination point code of the modified message with the identifier of the first telephone line B1.

The new modified message is sent to the second SMS center 109 at a step 222. The second SMS center 109 then again consults the central entity 106 in order to obtain the address of the mobile service center 110 serving the first associated user terminal 111.1 to the first telephone line Bl.

The new modified message is sent in a step 223 to the mobile service center 110, which delivers the message to the first user terminal 111.1 in a step 224.

Upon effective reception of the message, an acknowledgment message can be sent up in the network towards the first SMS center 101 so that it delivers the acknowledgment message to the sending user terminal 100.

As a variant of the example shown above, the redirection module 103 sends a response to step 206 in which the MSISDN field has been modified in order to display the telephone number of the second telephone line B2. In this case, the incoming message can be modified by the first SMS center 101 in order to indicate the second telephone line B2 as the destination point code, in place of the first telephone line B1. However, the replacement of B 1 through B2 inside the service platform, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, advantageously makes it possible to make the redirection service transparent with respect to the first telephone operator, and therefore with screw of the user of the transmitting user terminal 100.

FIG. 3 shows a redirection module 103 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The redirection module 103 comprises a processor 302 and a random access memory 303 for storing instructions allowing the implementation of the steps described above in relation to the redirection module, in particular the steps 204, 205, 206, 209, 212 , 213, 218, 221 and 222 described with reference to FIG. 2. The redirection module 103 also includes an internal memory 304 for storing data intended to be kept after the application of the method. In particular, the user database 104 can be integrated into the internal memory 304.

The redirection module 103 further comprises a first input interface 301 configured to receive data, in particular during steps 203, 208, 211, 217 and 220. The redirection module 103 further comprises an output interface 305 configured for transmit data, in particular during steps 205, 206, 209, 213, 218 and 222.

The redirection module 103 can also comprise a configuration interface 306, for example when the functionalities of the configuration module 105 are integrated into the redirection module 103. The configuration interface 306 is thus able to implement the step 200 described above.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

Claims (13)

Claims 1. Method for message redirection in a telecommunications network, said method being implemented in a service platform (102) of an operator, comprising the following steps: - receiving (208) an incoming message intended for a first telephone line and identifying a transmitting telephone line, said incoming message being a text message or a multimedia message; - consult (210) a user database (104) in order to deduce (211) from the first telephone line a second telephone line for the incoming message, the second telephone line being distinct from the first telephone line; - send (213) a modified message in the telecommunications network, the modified message identifying the transmitting telephone line identified in the incoming message and being intended for the second telephone line. 2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps, following the sending of the modified message to the second telephone line: - receiving (217) a message of non-acknowledgment of the modified message; - consult (218) the user database in order to obtain a third telephone line associated with the first and second telephone lines; - send (222) a new modified message to the third telephone line, the modified message identifying the transmitting telephone line identified in the incoming message. 3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps, prior to receipt of the incoming message: - receive (203) a request for routing information request for the incoming message, the request identifying the first telephone line; - send, (206) in response to the request for routing information request, a response identifying the service platform as the recipient of the incoming message. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the request for routing information request is received from a central entity (106) of a telecommunications network operator. 5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the user database stores at least one association between a first telephone line and a second telephone line, and in which each association corresponds to a user account. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein each user account is configurable online by a user. 7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein the association between the first telephone line and the second telephone line is further associated with at least one time slot, and wherein the modified message is sent to the second line by telephone if the incoming message is received during said at least one time slot. 8. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein at least one association between a first telephone line and a second telephone line is also associated with a list of transmitting telephone lines, and in which the modified message is sent in direction of the second telephone line if the telephone line identified in the incoming message belongs to the list of transmitting telephone lines associated with the first telephone line. 9. Method according to one of claims 5 to 8 and claim 2, wherein the association between the first telephone line and the second telephone line is further associated with a third telephone line in the user database ( 104). 10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the modified message is sent to a message center (109) in charge of routing messages in the telecommunications network. 11. Computer program characterized in that it includes instructions for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 10, when this program is executed by a processor. 5 12. Message redirection module in a telecommunications network, said redirection module (103) comprising: - an input interface (301) for receiving an incoming message intended for a first telephone line and identifying a transmitting telephone line, said incoming message being a text message or a multimedia message; 10 - a processor (302) for consulting a database of users in order to deduce from the first telephone line a second telephone line for the incoming message, the second telephone line being distinct from the first telephone line; - an output interface (305) for sending a modified message in the telecommunications network, the modified message identifying the transmitting telephone line identified 15 in the incoming message and being intended for the second telephone line. 13. Service platform comprising a message redirection module according to claim 12. 1/3 108 107 106 100